Laminate flooring cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $1,800 – $6,350
- Per sq ft
- $3.55 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $4,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #201
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install laminate flooring in Bismarck, plan on $1,800 to $6,350 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $3.55 to $12.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn a median of $23.10 an hour in the Bismarck area, 15% below the US median of $27.15.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$3,150 to $5,000
About $6.30 to $9.95 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,850 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,000 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,650 | $2,850 | 41% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $2,400 | $3,500 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,800 | $4,050 | $6,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Bismarck number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Bismarck wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 59% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bismarck metro is 95.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $1,650, compared with $1,750 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 60% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Bismarck. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Bismarck
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bismarck wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,800 to $3,600
Basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor
Standard
$3,150 to $5,000
Thicker waterproof laminate, standard trim
Premium
$4,550 to $6,350
Premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $710 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,550 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $1,800 – $3,600 | $3,150 – $5,000 | $4,550 – $6,350 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $4,300 – $8,650 | $7,600 – $12,000 | $10,900 – $15,300 |
Is Bismarck cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Cloud is the priciest of the group at $4,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $1,800 – $6,350 | $4,050 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $1,850 – $6,450 | $4,150 | +2% |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $1,900 – $6,650 | $4,300 | +5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $1,900 – $6,700 | $4,300 | +6% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +11% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $1,850 – $6,500 | $4,200 | +3% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $1,800 – $6,450 | $4,150 | +1% |
| United States | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Bismarck comes in at #201 from the top. The priciest is San Jose, CA at $6,350; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,550 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Bismarck is 1% below the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $1,850 – $6,450 | $4,150 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Bismarck's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $2,200 – $7,650 | $4,950 | +21% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,900 – $6,700 | $4,300 | +5% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,700 – $6,150 | $3,900 | −4% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $2,050 – $7,050 | $4,550 | +12% |
Planning more than one job in Bismarck?
Because every project leans on different trades, Bismarck's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and tile flooring −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,100 – $11,600 | −7% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $29,900 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,000 | −6% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Bismarck bid
Heated floors
Radiant floor heating adds $7-$17 per sq ft and has to go in before the floor does.
Brand
Name-brand laminate such as Pergo runs $5-$17 per sq ft installed.
Floating versus glued
Click-lock or floating laminate is the easiest and cheapest to install (HomeGuide).
Bismarck labor market for laminate floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Bismarck is 0.87 times the national level.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 60% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bismarck metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median: $23.10 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.06 and $31.26 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.28 an hour, which is 10% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $30.71 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 71.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $500. At the 25th percentile ($21.06) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 12.2% or 3.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,270 jobs in the Bismarck area. That makes it the 258th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 60% | $21.06 | $23.10 | $31.26 | $27.15 | 0.85 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.75 | $26.28 | $30.71 | $29.12 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
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Detailed laminate flooring report for Bismarck, ND, $9
The report lays out the laminate flooring numbers for Bismarck, ND line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Laminate flooring in Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to install laminate flooring in Bismarck?
For 500 sq ft, expect $1,800 to $6,350 in the Bismarck area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,150 to $5,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for laminate floor in Bismarck?
About $3.55 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $14.
+Is laminate floor cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $4,150, which is 2% more than Bismarck ($4,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $2,400 out of $4,050. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Bismarck?
$1,800 to $6,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does laminate floor need a permit in Bismarck?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Bismarck area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for laminate floor compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 1% below the North Dakota statewide estimate ($4,150 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn in Bismarck?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.10 an hour, compared with $27.15 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.06 to $31.26.
+What do basic and premium laminate floor work cost in Bismarck?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,800 to $3,600 and premium work $4,550 to $6,350. Basic means: basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor. Premium means: premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair.
Laminate flooring near Bismarck
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Laminate Flooring Installation Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $3-$8 per sq ft laminate labor, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.